TMZ is alleging that Taylor Swift and Matty Healy have called it quits on their relationship. The site says that this news comes from sources close to the couple. The reason for the breakup remains unclear. The pair had quite the whirlwind romance. Just last month, Matty appeared at all three of Taylor’s Nashville concerts. This happened shortly after news broke of her split from Joe Alwyn. Taylor and Joe had been together for six years. Since then, Matty and Taylor were often seen together when she wasn’t performing. They were spotted on multiple occasions in NYC. They went on double dates with Taylor’s friends and visited a recording studio together. There were even instances of Matty sneaking into Taylor’s NYC townhouse. He reportedly spent time with her father during her Eras Tour stop in Philadelphia.
Despite only recently starting to date, Taylor and Matty have known each other since 2014. At the time, Taylor attended a concert held by Matty’s band, The 1975. However, the couple hasn’t been seen together in public since their dinner date on May 25. The exact timing of the breakup is unknown. Still, there was a significant hint during The 1975’s performance in Denmark over the weekend. Matty, who had a reputation for kissing random people in the crowd, had previously declared that he would stop doing so during a January concert attended by Taylor. However, during the Denmark date, he kissed a security guard. This indicated to many that he is now embracing the single life.
Taylor’s Relationship Caused Quite A Bit Of Bad PR
While the reason for the breakup is still not known, it wouldn’t be surprising if Taylor decided to end it for the sake of her career. She isn’t a total stranger to bad PR. However, the significant backlash she received on all sides for dating Matty Healy was not a good look. Ice Spice fans raised concerns regarding the artist’s association with Taylor Swift. Some fans believe that their collaboration on the song “Karma” was a strategic move to divert attention from the reported racist behavior of Matty Healy. One fan even took to Twitter to compile a thread documenting Healy’s offensive actions. These included derogatory remarks about Ice Spice and mocking AAPI accents. This thread gained significant traction, prompting questions about Healy’s conduct.
Shortly after these allegations surfaced, Taylor made the announcement of her collaboration with Ice Spice. The surprise guest appearance by Ice at one of Taylor’s concerts further fueled speculation that it was an attempt to control the narrative. Critics argue that Taylor’s actions reflect a lack of concern for her fans, suggesting that her focus lies more on profit and avoiding criticism. Accusations have also been made that she is using a black woman as a shield to deflect attention from white supremacy. What do you think of the breakup? Was it the right move? Let us know in the comments below!
Ice Spice is undoubtedly one of the most sought-after rappers right now. Ascending into the role of rap’s newly-crowned princess, she’s one of the few artists of her generation who can say they’ve landed co-signs from the biggest names in the industry – Drake, Nicki Minaj, and most recently, Taylor Swift. The latter enlisted the Bronx Baddie for the official remix of “Karma,” landing on the second deluxe edition of Midnights. As you could imagine, it’s a massive milestone for Ice Spice who didn’t even break out into mainstream consciousness less than a year ago. It affirmed her position in pop culture and the grip that she gained since “Munch” permeated online lingo.
Unfortunately, not all fans celebrated the collaboration as a win for Ice Spice. Instead, many regarded the collaboration as an attempt for much-needed good PR in Taylor Swift’s love life. Her rumored boyfriend, Matt Healy of The 1975 – a group Ice Spice once shouted out – found himself in hot water following a podcast appearance earlier this year. On The Adam Friedland Show in January, Healy, Friedland, and Nick Mullen chuckled over offensive jokes surrounding Ice Spice that many deemed both racist and misogynistic.
The song’s announcement led to an immediate backlash, particularly among the Swifties, who highlighted Matt Healy’s problematic behavior (including doing a N*zi salute at a concert). Sure, one could say that Taylor shouldn’t be held accountable for someone else’s actions but ultimately, many feel like she became complicit in her alleged boyfriend’s antics since she hasn’t condemned nor addressed Healy’s behavior. Many felt as if it were a calculated decision to include Ice Spice on the remix to help sweep Healy’s comments under the rug, hoping that people will forget.
The Adam Friedland Podcast & Matt Healy
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – MAY 12: EDITORIAL USE ONLY, Matthew Healy performs onstage with Phoebe Bridgers in the set opener during the Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour at Lincoln Financial Field on May 12, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Lisa Lake/TAS23/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management)
Healy’s no stranger to controversy but his appearance on The Adam Friedland Podcast alongside Nick Mullen was eye-opening, to say the least. The episode, which Spotify and Apple Music removed from their platforms (although still available on YouTube), included bits where The 1975 frontman fessed up about masturbating to videos of Black women being “brutalized” on hardcore abuse porn websites. Another bit that gained traction included Healy encouraging Mullen and Friedland to do impersonations of Japanese men working in concentration camps. Elsewhere in the episode, he admitted to DM’ing Ice Spice, leading to a highly offensive segment that joked about Ice Spice’s ancestry while Mullen and Friedland mocked the accents of Hawaiian, Inuit, and Chinese people. The hosts referred to the Bronx rapper as “one of the Inuit Spice Girls,” a “chubby Chinese lady,” and “a f*cking Es**mo,” while Healy giggled in the background.
Eventually, Healy addressed the matter during a concert where he sort-of apologized to Ice Spice. “I just feel a bit bad, and I’m kind of a bit sorry if I’ve offended you,” Healy said. “Ice Spice, I’m sorry. It’s not because I’m annoyed that me joking got misconstrued. It’s because I don’t want Ice Spice to think I’m a dick. I love you, Ice Spice. I’m so sorry.”
However, the apology didn’t necessarily stick, even after the release of “Karma (Remix).” During a recent interview with The New Yorker, Healy brushed off the criticism as well as those offended. “It doesn’t actually matter. Nobody is sitting there at night slumped at their computer, and their boyfriend comes over and goes, ‘What’s wrong, darling?’ and they go, ‘It’s just this thing with Matty Healy.’ That doesn’t happen,” he said.
“If it does, you’re either deluded or you are, sorry, a liar. You’re either lying that you are hurt, or you’re a bit mental for being hurt,” he continued. “It’s just people going, ‘Oh, there’s a bad thing over there, let me get as close to it as possible so you can see how good I am.’ And I kind of want them to do that, because they’re demonstrating something so base level.” Arguably, it’s a comment like this that reinforces the skepticism surrounding Taylor Swift’s decision to work with Ice Spice.
Taylor Swift Announces “Karma (Remix)” Ft. Ice Spice
Um. SO much to tell you. I’m a massive fan of this brilliant artist and after getting to know her I can confirm: she is THE ONE to watch. So delighted to say that Karma Featuring the incredible @icespicee_ will be out TOMORROW night at MIDNIGHT ET as a part of the new Midnights… pic.twitter.com/OaRrHBWTUw
Anything Taylor Swift does becomes newsworthy in a matter of moments, and her commercial success is anything but a fluke. Taylor didn’t need to get Ice Spice on “Karma,” but in this instance, it certainly wouldn’t hurt – or so she thought. Last week, Taylor Swift shared a heartfelt message on Twitter to confirm the speculation surrounding the “Karma (Remix).” “I’m a massive fan of this brilliant artist and after getting to know her I can confirm: she is THE ONE to watch,” she tweeted, regurgitating a sentiment that rap circles have been preaching since last summer. “So delighted to say that Karma Featuring the incredible @icespicee_ will be out TOMORROW night at MIDNIGHT ET.”
Without acknowledging her supposed relationship with Healy or his behavior, despite bringing him out on stage, the outrage began flowing through Twitter, understandably. In most cases, the Swifties are a loud enough group to drown out any negative commentary surrounding their Queen. Just not this time. For an artist who remained largely apolitical until 2018 (coincidentally, the same year Ye went full MAGA), many felt as though her decision to work with Ice Spice was rather disingenuous. The Twitter account @undercoverarmy4’s response to the matter captures the feelings of many surrounding the collab. “Taylor Swift failing to address the racist comments Matt Healy made towards Ice Spice and then finding a way to profit off of her with a new collab is a textbook example of white woman feminism. It’s convenient, manipulative and continues to shield and protect white men,” the tweet reads.
It was only months prior that her rumored boyfriend was involved in a widely inappropriate tirade targeting women and BIPOC groups. But a vocal minority have suggested that it’s on-brand for Taylor – an artist who has been accused of treating inclusivity as the same sort of commodity as billion-dollar corporations. Although she gained fans from Kendrick Lamar and many other Black artists, she arguably hasn’t proven to be a proponent of diversity until recent years. Meanwhile, fans quickly pointed out her own history of questionable behavior.
The Weeknd once alleged the pop singer, in a potential drunken stupor, began “kind of, like, petting my hair” – a demeaning act no matter how you try and spin it. Then in 2015, fans called her out for her purported victimhood in what seemed like an attempt to dismiss Nicki Minaj’s complaints about racism in the music industry. Rather than acknowledging and rooting for a Black woman who felt the VMAs sidelined her, Taylor responded, “Maybe one of the men took your slots” when Nicki wasn’t nominated for Best Video.
Moreover, Ice Spice appears to be one of the few (if not the only) Black women that Taylor Swift’s collaborated with in her career. So, is it a genuine appreciation for an up-and-coming rapper or an opportunistic venture? Because even when she faced backlash from pop culture pundits for her entirely white, modelesque friend group in the past, she never really addressed it. Instead, she embarked on the 1989 tour where she brought on Fetty Wap, Chris Rock, Serena Williams, Mary J. Blige, and other Black icons on stage, as the Daily Beast pointed out.
“Karma (Remix)” Is A Hit?
Shortly after the song dropped, Taylor Swift performed at New Jersey’s Met Life Stadium as part of The Eras tour. To the crowd’s surprise, Ice Spice appeared on stage to perform the single for the first time ever, while Taylor also debuted the music video for the song. Ice Spice appeared lost the whole time, and we can’t really blame her. She became accustomed to the uber-hype Rolling Loud crowds, not those of a pop singer. At least, not yet. Still, the Swifties ate it up – as they should, considering how much they spent on tickets. Regardless of Taylor’s intentions, the “Karma (Remix)” is already a success. While it wouldn’t be surprising if it tops the Billboard Hot 100 next week, it already helped Ice Spice break the record for the biggest streaming debut for a female rapper in Spotify history – a record previously held by Nicki Minaj.
Still, the “Karma (Remix)” is nothing that your average hip-hop head will be drooling over. Many feel that the bars are lackluster while calling Ice Spice’s flow sleep-inducing. It lacks the viral meme value that propelled the success of “Boy’s A Liar Pt. 2” and “Munch (Feelin’ U)” to the top of the charts. But generally speaking, Ice Spice sounds just as out of place on “Karma (Remix)” as she did on stage at the Met Life Stadium. It’s a crossover record that could very well open more doors for Ice Spice in the future, but in actuality, what does Taylor Swift actually benefit from it?
Ice Spice fans are expressing concern about the artist’s connection to Taylor Swift. They think that her collaboration with Taylor Swift on the song “Karma” was a strategic move. Allegedly, they believe it was to divert attention from her boyfriend’s reported racist behavior. Taylor is currently dating The 1975 frontman Matt Healy. Recently, he faced backlash for making sexist and racist comments. One fan created a Twitter thread detailing Healy’s offensive acts. These included derogatory remarks about Ice Spice and mocking AAPI accents. The thread gained significant traction and raised questions about Healy’s behavior.
Shortly after these allegations emerged, Taylor announced her collaboration with Ice Spice. The singer even brought her out as a surprise guest during her concert. Some fans speculate that this collaborative performance was a further attempt to control the narrative. Critics argue that Taylor’s actions demonstrate a lack of concern for her fans. According to them, she seems more focused on profit and avoiding criticism. They accuse her of using a black woman as a shield to deflect from the racist comments made by Matt Healy. Furthermore, they view this as an example of manipulative white feminism that protects and shields white men.
Ice Spice Sees Success From Collab With Taylor
Taylor Swift and Ice Spice perform onstage during “Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour” at MetLife Stadium on May 26, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/TAS23/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management)
Despite the controversy surrounding the collaboration, “Karma” has achieved significant success. It earned Ice Spice the largest streaming debut for a female rapper in Spotify history. The track generated over 5 million streams on its first day. The song quickly climbed the global Spotify chart, making it Ice Spice’s most successful streaming day on Spotify to date. It is expected to make a notable impact on the Billboard Hot 100, as well. It could potentially mark a breakthrough moment for Ice Spice.
Ice Spice’s performance with Taylor Swift at the MetLife Stadium showcased her rising stardom, as well. Footage shows the Bronx native commanding the stage in front of a massive crowd. While she has already achieved chart success with previous releases, reaching the number-one spot has remained elusive for her. Regardless, fans of Ice Spice still seem concerned. It is unclear whether or not her collaboration with Taylor Swift on “Karma” was a strategic move. to divert attention from her boyfriend’s racist comments. What do you think about the situation? Was it a strategic move on Taylor’s part? Let us know in the comments below!
A podcast episode that arrived earlier this month is gaining traction online as people are calling out The 1975 singer Matt Healy. He recently appeared on The Adam Friedland Show podcast, and during the chat, Healy brought up Ice Spice. He claimed he DMed the Bronx rapper before he and the hosts began mocking Ice’s looks. “She’s like an Inuit Spice Girl,” someone said as they all laughed. “This cubby Chinese lady. ‘Yeah, I rap and [make] music.’ Do Inuits talk like that?” Then, the group began making fun of Inuit, Hawaiian, and Chinese accents.
Healy added, “Yeah, that’s what Ice Spice is like.” Then, the group described Spice as an “attractive woman who released one song.” One of the hosts asked Healy, “So, you slide in her DMs. What’d you ask her, ‘Are you a f*ckin’ Eskimo?’” The comments faced minimal backlash when the episode was first released, but Yungblud made his grievances known.
Yungblud Calls Out Matt Healy & Podcast Hosts
WEST HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 02: Ice Spice attends the 2023 Spotify Best New Artist Party at Pacific Design Center on February 02, 2023 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Steven Simione/FilmMagic)
Not long after the podcast episode aired, Yungblud fired off a tweet. “Love listening to three privileged white dudes sit around and objectify a young black female artist who’s blowing up,” he wrote. “Welcome to your 30’s i guess.” Healy took issue with Yungblud’s response and, in turn, uploaded a video mocking the singer. This isn’t Healy’s first controversial run-in; weeks ago, he was accused of giving the Nazi salute during one of his performances. Fans questioned if he was anti-Semitic or doing it as satire.
Meanwhile, reactions to Healy’s remarks about Ice Spice have recently gained steam on social media. People have questioned why he didn’t face more criticism. Healy seems unapologetic over his remarks, which isn’t surprising considering his previous scandals that have permeated the Alternative scene. However, since his comments have gone viral, people have educated him on Ice Spice’s heritage.
Ice Spice Shared Her Background
In November, Ice was tweeting away with fans as several began questioning her ethnic background. To end the discussion, she wrote, “I’m Nigerian, but IDK which tribe. Maybe u right!” she said to someone who claimed she looked Igbo. “Dominican too, Chill sisters.” Check out Matt Healy and the podcast hosts speaking about Ice Spice above around the 19:45 mark.
Matt Healy, the frontman of The 1975, put his support behind Young Thug during a recent concert. As the rapper faces a number of charges that could lead to years of incarceration, fans, and friends continue to show their support. During a performance, Healy began to go into a stream of consciousness where he began to advocate for Thugger’s freedom while using heavy auto-tune.
“Cultural references don’t make any sense without Young Thug. Don’t care if did anything with guns,” Matt Healy sang. “Freeeeeeee Thugger. Fuckin’ free Thugger! Do your research,” he added during the concert at The SSE Arena in Belfast, United Kingdom. Fans quickly applauded Healy, though it seems likely that there were just as many people who didn’t understand the reference.
Healy is far from the first person to advocate for Thug’s freedom but perhaps, he’s the first among pop rock bands. Throughout the past few months, executives like Kevin Liles to peers in hip-hop have shown their support for Young Thug. A few rappers have also released music dedicated to Thug, like Fredo Bang who released “Free Thug” last year.
Young Thug is among the 14 defendants that are on pace to face trial on RICO charges. The State’s Attorney accused Thug of being the leader of the YSL gang and hit him with eight charges. The rapper is facing one count of conspiracy to violate the Racketeering Influenced And Corrupt Organizations. Additionally, prosecutors hit him with participating in a street gang activity, three counts of violating the Georgia Controlled Substances Act, possession of a firearm while committing a felony and possession of a machine gun. Thug entered not guilty plea for each charge.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 16: Young Thug attends Remy Martin Presents – Young Thug Birthday And Album Release Celebration at Beauty & Essex on August 16, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jerritt Clark/Getty Images for Remy Martin)
Thug and his co-defendants appeared in court several times since the beginning of the month for jury selection. Things have been rather eventful, from potential jurors skipping town for a vacation to a co-defendant allegedly handing Young Thug a pill in the courtroom. At this point, the judge suspects the trial could last anywhere from 6 to 9 months. This led the judge to excuse several jurors, who explained the hardships they’d faced so far from the case.
